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Table of Contents

Post 16: Year 12 Learner Engagement Plan

Many learners in year 12 are adjusting to the change in learning / teaching styles and the increased independence on offer. This year, learners are looking at the ‘for and against’ debate of going into higher education, and are mindful of courses and careers.

Mentors working with year 12 learners will possibly be helping learners carry out thorough investigations to their skills and look to match them with suitable careers and courses. Looking at alternative progression routes and making applications to higher education will also be very pertinent. Mentors may spend time working with learners to dispel myths about HE and also work through money worries.

The following table can be used as a guide to help you plan your mentoring sessions. The resources and activities found at www.aimhigherwm.ac.uk/mentoring will help guide you through addressing the above issues as well as other pertinent areas for this year group. It is strongly advised you familiarise yourself with these online resources.

Topic/Theme

Description

Online LEP Resource

Learning Styles

This session helps learners to identify different learning styles and forms of assessment.

Online LEP resources The activities raise awareness of the different approaches to study and assessments. This can be used to assist with the change in demands between yr 11 and yr 12 studying.

Check on applications and arrangements for Masterclasses and Subject Enrichment Programmes organised by Aimhigher and the HEIs.

Use this session to outlines the benefits of higher education and explore progression routes.

Online LEP resources - Activities help learners answer some important questions related to higher education. It raises their awareness of the extensive range of courses available, and looks at the different types of university or college.

This session can be conducted individually, or in small groups.

Tutor’s Pack - What Is HE and What is it all About? - Activity 1 and fact sheets 1-3 (be aware the financial info will be need amending).

What about employer-sponsored alternatives to university

There are a growing number of employer-sponsored and Higher Apprenticeship pathways for A Level and BTEC students to consider. Increasingly, large employers are trying to attract bright candidates at 18 or 19, rather than wait until they graduate. In return they offer an “earn and learn” pathway that may include funding candidates though part-time degrees, professional or Apprenticeship-based qualifications as part of a salaried career package.

The Student Room - read through and select examples with appropriate message of researching the Uni and the course, and having realistic expectations of Uni life.

Student Finance

Use this session to highlight the financial issues that students and their families need to consider.

Online LEP resources - Fees, loans, grants, bursaries and scholarships. The question of whether it pays to study at this level is also explored.

Check that parents/carers are aware of HE information evenings. Many HEIs also have sections on their websites specifically designed for parents in addition to moneysavingexpert.com.

Money Saving Expert - for 20 key facts about student finance (great signpost for parents/carers and learners together) and also excellent printable guides for parents/carers, learners and teachers. You may want to dip into the ‘current students’ section here too.

Post 16: Year 13 Learner Engagement Plan

Issues with year 13 learners are often very specific and focussed on exams and ‘what’s next’. Here mentors will possibly find learners need study skills support during their current year, but also to prepare them for the year ahead. Helping learners gain a realistic view of what to expect whilst in Higher Education; study time, independence, finance, budgeting, work/study/social life balance – will be of paramount importance. Mentors may find themselves preparing learners for university interviews and possibly helping to identify useful additional work experience.

The following table can be used as a guide to help you plan your sessions. You will find comprehensive resources and internet links to compliment this information at www.aimhigherwm.ac.uk/mentoring. It is strongly advised you familiarise yourself with these online resources.

Topic/Theme

Description

Online LEP Resource

Where to study.Lifestyle: home or away?

These sessions can help learners gain an understanding of where universities are geographically and what that means in terms of lifestyle.

Online LEP resource - Activities to match HEIs to their locations, and allow learners to discuss the distance and length of time it would take to get to each location. Activities also focus on the advantages and disadvantages of different locations. The activity enables learners to consider whether it is better to live at home, or to move to a new area

Remember that some of these suggestions can be carried out by the learner at home, maybe with parents, carers and siblings too.

Looks at the system for allocating points to qualifications used for entry to HE, how to apply and also league tables.

Online LEP resources explore the non-qualification criteria that might be used by HEIs when making decisions about offers. The activities also examine what happens to the UCAS application after it has been submitted. Also looks into what factors have fed the demand for HE league tables, and explores the arguments for and against such tables.

Check dates of Higher Education Open Days and liaise with school regarding visit arrangements. Check internal school deadlines for the submission of completed UCAS application forms, and discuss the implications with the learners.

University statistics and the Student Satisfaction SurveyUCAS personal statement review

Enables learners to see what over 177,000 undergraduate students felt about the quality of their HE experience. Also this session can be used to look at finalising the personal statement.

Online LEP resources - The initial activity allows learners to investigate and compare university statistics for their chosen subjects and HEIs. This session could also use the activity to allow learners to refine and begin to finalise their UCAS personal statements.

Encourage learners to show their personal statement to others, to not get attached to their first drafts and to read their personal statement aloud.

The Student Room - locate a suitable thread from within the many discussion topics.

Identifying visible and invisible barriers to HEHandling HE and job interviews

Help learners to recognise and be encouraged to address the possible barriers to HE, including the possibility of an HE interview.

Online LEP resources - Activities are written to really help learners to allay their own fears and Investigates the factors which might determine whether an applicant is called for an interview and what to expect. Also suggests suitable ways to prepare for such interviews.

Ask your university coordinator for a copy of past interview structure and questions for relevant subjects.

Aimhigher Tutor’s Pack - What is HE and What is it all About? Activity 3 : ‘Why do people go on to higher education?’

This session will be very useful for students with an already diagnosed disability, or suspected disability such as dyslexia.

Online LEP resources investigate the issues relevant to learners who may have support needs, e.g. accessibility, study facilities and finance. Makes reference to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Share what support your own university offers students with a disability.

Use this session to examine the financial problems that could be encountered. It is also an opportunity to look at the reality of graduate vs. non-graduate earnings to put things into perspective.

Online LEP resources highlight the extra financial support to which HE students may be entitled if they meet certain conditions set by their university or college, bursaries or scholarships offer additional funding that the student does not have to pay back. Information sites for graduate earnings too.

Each University or college will have information on its own bursary scheme on their website.

Introduce the learners to the host of online support available for revision.

Online LEP resources - Clear and easy to follow notes and activities, divided into three sections: ‘learn it’, ‘test it’ and ‘revise it’. Aims to complement, enrich and broaden the online learning experience by providing high quality information via links to other good sites.

Suggest and help the learners create a revision timetable……is it realistic, do they want you to check each session if they are sticking to it? If they aren’t following the timetable, what issues need to be addressed so they can?

Use this session to Illustrate the marked differences between a typical day in the life of a school/college student and HE student.

Online LEP resource - Some great printable activities to cover this theme. Also includes an activity where learners are encouraged to match the quotes from six successful graduates about their HE experiences.

Its important to share ……see if any of the teachers are willing to share their experiences.

Aimhigher Tutor’s Pack - What Is HE and What is it all about? Activity 5: ‘A day in the life’. Activity 4: ‘If I were you’, Handout 4a.

Online LEP resources - Look into the moving-in costs for either a hall of residence or student flat. Also helps to distinguish which are needs and which are wants. Introduces learners to the likely costs of being in HE and to managing funds through budgeting.

Managing the learner expectations to finance and budgeting is key. If your budgeting skills are a little shaky, learn alongside them.

This session will look at when a loan isn’t a loan and talk about ideas to supplement the student income.

Online LEP resources By using the internet, learners are encouraged to explore the range of loans available, including student loans. Activities also enable learners to idea-storm as many ways as possible of supplementing income before going into HE or whilst at college/university.

What ways do you know of for University students to supplement their income - mentoring for example?

Aimhigher Tutor’s Pack - Finance – Activity 20: ‘ When is a loan not a loan?’ – MUST amend financial info before use. Activity 21: To work or not to work? – MUST amend financial info before use.